Man gets up to 20 years for robberies, assault

An alleged gang member who took part in a large fight in November and a spate of robberies over the winter will serve up to two decades behind bars.

Jonathan "Danger" Rodriguez-Reyes, 20, of Allentown was ordered Wednesday by Lehigh County Judge Maria L. Dantos to serve 10 to 20 years in state prison.

"You can take your nickname, Danger, off to state prison with you," Dantos told him.

Rodriguez-Reyes pleaded guilty in August to five counts of robbery and one count of aggravated assault.

The robberies occurred at convenience stores and restaurants in Allentown.

Authorities said they believe Rodriguez-Reyes is affiliated with the Trinitarios street gang.

Rodriguez-Reyes, speaking through a Spanish-speaking interpreter, said he wants to change.

"I would like to say I know that I did wrong and that was the reason I decided to plead guilty," he said. "I was in a world that I wouldn't like to be in again. I want to get out."

County Chief of Prosecutions Stephen Van Natten said Rodriguez-Reyes flashed a gun in four of the five robberies.

Police say Rodriguez-Reyes was among a group of four robbers, one armed with a long-barreled handgun and another with bolt cutters, who on Dec. 2 took a lottery money bag and purses belonging to clerks at Redner's Quick Shoppe on Airport Road.

Authorities say Rodriguez-Reyes also participated in the Dec. 17 robberies of a Top Star Express at 2050 Tilghman St. and a 7-Eleven at 1801 S. Fourth St.

Police say three hooded teens entered the Top Star around 10 p.m. and one of them pointed a gun at the clerk. The clerk opened the register and one of the teens emptied it, taking $177. One of the robbers also took the clerk's purse, containing $11.

At 11:50 p.m., Allentown police were dispatched to the 7-Eleven. A clerk there said two hooded teens entered the store and one pointed a gun. The register was opened and one of the teens fled with the money.

Police reviewed surveillance footage and matched it to the robbery of the Redner's on Dec. 2.

Rodriguez-Reyes was arrested Dec. 19 and charged in the Redner's robbery. He later admitted to being the gunman in both Dec. 17 robberies.

He also admitted robbing two Chinese restaurants.

One teen and two other men were charged in some of the robberies Rodriguez-Reyes participated in, authorities said.

The assault Rodriguez-Reyes admitted to occurred Nov. 30 near Dieruff High School in Allentown. Van Natten said during a fight between two groups — authorities believe it was gang-related — Rodriguez-Reyes assaulted someone. The hospital bills for the victim totaled nearly $36,000. Rodriguez-Reyes was ordered to pay that bill along with about $7,400 more to the businesses he robbed.